We are very pleased to present the programme for our twenty-third jazz festival. It’s our regular mixture of old friends and new faces, with 50 plus sessions featuring bands from across most of the spectrum of the music we call jazz.
Peter Vacher described Swanage as the “perfect place for a summer weekend of jazz” (Jazz Journal). We know most of our fans agree: a great many return every year to the Festival and we still meet some of those who were here for the first small-scale affair in 1990. If you’ve never been to the Festival, we think you’ll find the combination of top class jazz, effective but relaxed organization and a beautiful seaside setting irresistible. You might stay on to explore the stunning coastal scenery and picturesque villages, as an increasing number of people do.
* We regret that MARIUS NESET has had to withdraw from the festival (Saturday, Marquee 3, 1.05-2.25pm). He will be replaced with PARTISANS, led by Julian Siegel and Phil Robson.
There are five venues close to the seafront in the centre of town, so you can stroll from the large marquees to the smaller venues and take in everything from New Orleans revivalism and Dixieland to post-bop and contemporary sound, by way of swing and mainstream.
The Festival is promoted by a group of mainly Swanage-based fans and is no–profit making. We have some small amounts of sponsorship – the PRS for Music Foundation, Enterprise Inns and some local small businesses. But we survive and have grown largely because of the support of fans: we pay over 90 per cent of our bills for musicians and equipment from ticket sales.
The stroller ticket covers everything except the boat trip and the steam train jazz dance. The music runs from 7 to 11pm on Friday, 11am to 11pm on Saturday and 10am to 11pm on Sunday. There’s a brass band parade on Saturday morning, a church service on Sunday, free gigs in pubs and open-air gigs on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are on sale from the beginning of February, but are restricted to full weekend strollers until May 31, after which we also sell day tickets if we haven’t sold out. We do urge you to book your tickets and accommodation early if you can. Like many seaside towns, in the recent past Swanage has seen many hotels and guesthouse redeveloped to provide retirement and second homes. For information and accommodation lists see the Booking Form below. Given the demand for places in town, it helps if you book for at least three days.
All of our venues are accessible to wheelchairs. We are very definitely a child-friendly event – we admit children under sixteen free with an adult, and we offer a discount of 50% for student bookings. We are also happy to admit dogs, provided they are under close control.
The Jazz Cruise and Steam Train/Jazz Dance – Friday 13th July
This year, due to factors beyond our control, we are only able to run one boat with a jazz band (Dave Martin’s Jabbo Five). The boat will leave Swanage Pier at 2pm, sail past Old Harry Rocks and round Poole Harbour, and return at 4.30pm. Last year, for the first time we had to cancel the cruise due to bad weather. If the weather is a problem this year, we will announce a cancellation by 10 a.m. on the day. In the event of cancellation, the band will play in one of the marquees on Sandpit Field and ticket holders will be offered two free drinks in compensation.
This year for the first time we are also running a steam train trip from Swanage to Harman’s Cross station (on the picturesque Purbeck Line) with a jazz dance in the village hall (with Gerry Brown’s Mission Hall Band). The train leaves Swanage station at 2pm and returns at 4.24pm. (In the event of technical failure, a diesel will be substituted).
There will be licensed bars on the boat and in the village hall. Sales are restricted to 120 for each event.
